The
Committee considered a call-in of a Cabinet decision on the
Strategic Plan and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), made on
19 September 2018.

Councillor Jonathan Price, the Lead Member who had called in the
Cabinet decision explained that he had done so as he felt that many
of the county’s residents benefited from the services of the
Voluntary, Community and Social
Enterprise (VCSE) and it was important to express his and that of
the other members who had called the decision in, views and
concerns.

He acknowledged that this was one of many decisions
that the County Council had reluctantly had to take to balance the
budget. The call-in showed the level of
support for the VCSE and the work that they do and their valuable
input into helping the County Council deliver the ‘people
helping people’ agenda. The Community Grants Allocation Fund
was also being cut and he felt that Councillors would have fewer
tools to help people in their communities. He appreciated that it is a very difficult
financial climate and the impact of an increasing demand on social
care and a decreasing budget was affecting the Council in many
ways. However, whilst recognising this,
he felt that there was strength of feeling that suggested that,
should funding become available this was a service which needed to
be kept. He felt that the MTFS working
group had properly scrutinised the process and the proposed cuts
but he was pleased that the call-in process was available to allow
his and the views of other Members who had called in the decision,
to be heard.

In summary, Cllr Price and the other Members who had
called in the decision were asking for their views to be taken on
board and requested that should the Government give the County
Council an improved financial settlement later in the year, that
the Cabinet relook at this proposed budget reduction and enable the
retention of this valuable service.

It was proposed that the Cabinet continue to
implement the strategic plan and the medium term financial
strategy

The Chairman asked if there any other members who had
called in the decision who wanted to speak at the
meeting. Councillor Trowbridge stated
that at the Conservative Party Conference, the Prime Minister had
said that there would be an end to austerity, and it was felt that
this was now a time to look forward.

The Chairman informed the Committee that he felt that
the process showed the importance of the call-in and scrutiny
process, via the MTFS working group and the opportunity for
discussing these issues publically through the Call-in. He also felt that although the Prime Minister had
said that austerity was over, it was still right for the Council to
prepare its budget based on the current information provided by the
Ministry.

The Leader of the Council welcomed the opportunity to
discuss the issue and hoped that the Committee would go on to agree
with the original Cabinet decision. He
went on to ...
view the full minutes text for item 26.